
3 minute read
Volunteer Highlights
from 2021 Annual Impact Report
by Nora8300
Volunteer Highlight Quilting with a Smile

Nora’s Home is grateful for the volunteers that offer their time and talent to the home. Our guests are always eager to join in the activities where they can play games, learn new things or eat a good meal to fill their time here. One of those special volunteers is Marcia Karns. Marcia inquired about bringing sewing to the home and knew of a few guests who had an interest. Not too long after her early visits did our conference room fill up with guests who had never sewn and those who were eager to improve their skills and teach each other. It has truly been a wonderful opportunity for our guests.
Marcia belongs to the West Houston Quilters Guild and this weekly sewing class has taken off. Marcia arrives to the home with a valet cart full of fabric, tools, sewing machines and thread – all donated. She is eager to help guests make their own quilt and share her talent with them so they can learn. Many who have never sewn before are now gifted with this ability and have made memorable keepsakes to take with them to the hospital and take home when they leave Nora’s.
Guests have truly enjoyed the instruction and camaraderie built while learning this new craft or honing in on their skills. She has even introduced her lovely friends from the quilting guild to the home where they have hosted a dinner and a game of “Quilto” (bingo with quilting terms).
Volunteer Highlight Adding Sunshine with Sunflower Sacks
How can you brighten the day of a guest at Nora’s Home? Join in the fun and donate Sunflower Sacks! This new initiative started in 2021, was a way to provide a shelf-stable snack for our guests as they make their way to a day full of appointments. Due to long clinic hours, patients may miss a meal—a Sunflower Sack provides them with a sustaining snack to eat while they are in between appointments.
Much to our surprise it has become a staple in our guests’ day as they grab a bag on their way out the door to their transplant center. It’s become an opportunity for coworkers, family members, social/ church groups and students to come together and work on a service project. The donated bags have been donned with clever artwork, motivational quotes, stickers and jokes. These bags have brought a smile to the faces of our guests and filled their stomachs. Nora’s guest, Daren, is grateful for the sacks that come in. They’ve provided nourishment while he’s been waiting for his next appointment. He shared that
Consider joining in this effort and get your friend and family together. Grab any sack, craft your message to bring a little sunshine to a guest’s day, and stuff with snacks and water. Our goal is to have our shelf full of sacks each day, so guests can grab them on their way out!


A HOW TO GUIDE
1 Purchase paper lunch bags (any brand)
2 Decorate them! Be creative, have fun, make them special! Add messages, artwork, stickers…you name it!
3 Fill them with items like:
• Water Bottle (8oz) • Applesauce & Spoon • Beef Jerky Sticks • Fresh Fruit • Fruit Leather • Granola Bars • Oatmeal Packets • Sandwich Crackers • Mac n’ Cheese cup
4 Drop them off at Nora’s Home
8300 El Rio Street Houston, TX 77054 Learn more at norashome.org/volunteer